The Delta independent., 1887-03-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From uur regular correspondent.

From uur regular correspondent.
The Forty y-ninth Congress has Joined
the procession of the past. 1t adjourn
ed sine die on the fourth of March. 1t
has become the fashion to speak of the
dilatoriness and stupidity uf Congress.
Such abuse is cheap. 1t might be ex-
planned that it is difficult for Il heter-
0geneous mass of clashing individuals
ties and interests to act smoothly and
simultaneously. Other people have
solved the difficulties by divisions,
frontier fortitications. and standing
armies and colossal military budjets.
We prefer to settle wrangles in our
own house. and we are wise even in
the conceit of our foreign neighbors.
The only way to judge the Forty
ninth Congress will be by comparing it
with previous Congresses, and it must
be said in its favor that more bills
have been introduced and passed by it,
more have become laws and more lave
received vetoes. than in any of the
Congresses that had gone before.
Many important and useful measures
were passed among them changing tile
Presidential succession to the Cabinet;
regulating the Electoral Count 50 as to
avoid disputes; providing for one and
two dollar paper currency; building Il
new Congressional Library; recover
ing in forfeited railroad land grants
nearly 80. 100000 of acres and restoring
it to the public domain; extending the
mail delivery system to the towns with
10000 population; the Inter State Com
merce law; granting land in severalty
to Indians; the Canadian Retaliation
bill; the repeal of the Tenure of Office
act; the increase of the Navy; and
prohibiting the importation of foreign
contract labor.
The bad measures attempted were
numerous, but fortunately few of them
became laws. Among them were the
Oleomargarine tax: the Backbone land
grant swindie; the Mexican Pension
bill; and The Dependent Pension bill,
which WAS vetoed 10y the President.
The River and uarbor bill met deserv-
ed failure. The President believing
the money was not needed. refused to
sign it. the River and Harbor bill
which he signed August 9Th, 1886,
made an appropriation of S14,474.0O0
and there was then part OF the pre-
the first of fNovemberl last the Engineer
in Chief reported to Congress that
there was on hand for the improve
mant of Rivers and Harbors $16.G33.-
362. But little of this money has been
spent and there was no necessity for
the appropriation of $l0,00O,00O.
1t was President Cleveland's original
intention to remain at the White House
during the closing hours of Congress,
but at the last moment having receiv-
ed kilograms from Speaker Carlisle
and both Senators and Representatives
that the District Appropriation bill
would fail unless he could reach the
Capitol in time to sign it, he entered
his carriage and reached the Presi-
dents room at the Senate end of the
Capitol only fifteen minuets before the
time that Congress must expire by Con-
stitntion. There lie and his Cabinet
glanced at the bills that were brought
to him by swift messengers, and such
rs were approved received his sigma
ture. The intelligence that the Presi-
dent WAS in the building spread rapid
ly, there was not less than five thou
sand people in the Capitol, and he had
not been in his room three minutes be-
fore the police had to form Gordon
around the door to prevent the iHtru-
sion of the tlhrongs of people who
pressed forward to catch sight of the
President. The police had II hard time
of it until Mr.. Cleveland left the Capt.
tol few minuets after adjournment.
He had had only three hours rest since
Wednesday night, but he showed no
signs of fatigue, and after returning to
the White House he held his usual
daily reception of visitors i'll the East
room.